Back-to-school is one of the most trying times for any parent. This time has always been marked with constant agonies of having to deal with revolting kids and to some parents; this is the time to check the newsletters to ensure they comply with the requirements for the next term.
Adding to this list of worries is shopping for your kids and because this touches all parents in a tender place, it needs to be approached with more caution than ever before. Let us look at some of the tips you could use to save yourself some cash, time and peace of mind on your next back to school shopping experience.
Sweep Your Closet and Drawers
When is the last time you did a thorough sweep of your or your children’s drawers and closets? Or even better, when is the last time you saw something truly valuable in there but ignored it? As much as you may not believe it, your closets and drawers could give you a head start before doing any back-to-school shopping for your kids.
You can start from your office before proceeding home to do a similar sweep and by the time you are done, you will have plenty of stationery that your kid could find resourceful. Sort them out and then take back what you truly need for your day-to-day work before handing over the rest to your kid. This will save you a great deal of money and time, aside from helping you do some de-cluttering [something not so many of us are good at].
Have You Tried Garage Sales and Thrift Stores?
Ever since the idea of garage sales was embraced, there has never been a limit to the deals you can scoop out of this kind of shopping. The common supplies you will find in garage sales and at fairly reasonable prices include gently used shoes, clothing and uniform supplies, backpacks and many more.
The same concept has been picked by thrift stores which avail all manner of items, especially those geared towards parents with school-going children. The only piece of advice is to take advantage of these offers way before the opening date as the stock is always cleared within the first day of the kids going back to school.
How About Coupons?
The idea of discounts is something that appeals to any parent and since back-to-school times often catch most parents unawares, one thing that could save you the agony of over-spending is using coupons. There are so many stores [online or otherwise] that offer coupons so you can redeem them and enjoy priceless back-to-school shopping experience.
Invest in your Sunday paper to check out some of the sites such as Walmart and RetailMeNot for various back-to-school coupon codes. All you have to do is correctly match the codes and voila. Here is where to find the best coupons.
Lastly, Don’t Forget The All-Time Tip of Bulk Buying
So when all is said and done, you can still redeem your finances during the back-to-school times by buying in bulk. One beauty of bulk buying is that stationery do not go bad or get damaged easily so that piece of pen and a ruler that you bought for your kid in January can still be used in September.
You can also take advantage of bulk-buying by ensuring you do your shopping during off-peak seasons [the seasons when the demand for school items is at all-time low]. If you spot anything your kid does not presently need but one that they may need in future, do not be afraid to pick it and keep it for that rainy day.
